Crossword Genius

Information on old American city (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

genoa

'city' is the definition.
(I know that Genoa is a city)

'information on old american' is the wordplay.
'information' becomes 'gen' (gen can informally mean information).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'old' becomes 'o' (common abbreviation eg in OE for Old English).
'american' becomes 'a' (common abbreviation - e.g. in organisation names).
'gen'+'o'+'a'='GENOA'

(Other definitions for genoa that I've seen before include "North Italian port" , "Italian city has no age, oddly" , "City of Italy" , "Type of rich fruit cake" , "NW Italian sea port" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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